Secure life jacket container

ABSTRACT

A secure life jacket container assembly includes a hollow container defining a storage volume which receives a life jacket in a packed condition. A cover is attached to the container with a tamper-evident sealing material. Removal of the cover causes an irreversible change in the sealing material which provides an indication that tampering has occurred.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 10/666,199, filed on Sep. 18, 2003.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to aircraft and more particularly to alife jacket container assembly for an aircraft seat unit. Commercialpassenger aircraft include safety devices for use by passengers in caseof a crash or ditching, for example flotation devices. Some flotationdevices are simple members of buoyant material. Inflatable life jackets,packed in a folded condition, are also used. Such life jackets must bestored in a manner and location so that they will not be damaged duringnormal operations but can be easily and quick put into use during anemergency. Accordingly, many modern aircraft seating units include apouch or container underneath the seat cushion where the life jacket isreadily accessible to the passenger. Unfortunately, life jackets storedin such an easily accessible location are subject to tampering andtheft. Furthermore, it is possible for terrorists to insert weapons orother illegal items into the container.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a storagecontainer for a life jacket which protects the life jacket until use.

It is another object of the invention to provide a storage container fora life jacket which permits observation and inspection of the storedlife jacket and its identifying information.

It is another object of the invention to provide a storage container fora life jacket which discourages tampering and theft.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other objects are met by the present invention, whichaccording to one embodiment provides a tamper-evident containerassembly, comprising a hollow container defining a storage volume, thecontainer having an opening communicating with the storage volume. Acover is attached to the container and encloses the opening. Atamper-evident sealing material is disposed between and attached to thecover and the container, such that removal of the cover causes thesealing material to change in a manner to provide an observableindication that the cover has been removed.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the open-endedcontainer is a molded plastic one-piece assembly having anoutwardly-extending lip disposed around the perimeter of the opening.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the containerincludes a laterally-extending arcuate mounting flange extending fromlip.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the cover is agenerally planar membrane.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the coverincludes a handle formed integrally therewith.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the cover is asubstantially rigid, planar cover.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the cover hasan upstanding edge disposed around its outer perimeter.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the coverincludes a handle attached thereto.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the sealingmaterial comprises a flexible material having first and second layersattached to the cover and to the container. Separation of the cover fromthe container causes the first and second layers to separate from eachother while the first layer remains attached to the cover and the secondlayer remains attached to the container.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, separation ofthe first and second layers causes an indicia to be visible in at leastone of the first and second layers.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, atamper-evident life jacket container assembly, comprises a hollowcontainer, having an opening, adapted for receiving a flotation device.A flotation device is disposed inside of the container. A tamper-evidentsealing material is secured around the opening of the open-endedcontainer. A cover id secured to the tamper-evident sealing material andencloses the open end of the container; such that removal of the covercauses the sealing material to change in a manner to provide anobservable indication that the cover has been removed.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a passengerseat frame assembly includes at least two spaced-apart leg modules; atleast one transverse beam extending laterally between the leg modules,the beam having an external surface; and a tamper-evident containerassembly attached to the seat frame. The container assembly includes ahollow container defining a storage volume and the container has anopening communicating with the storage volume. A cover is attached tothe container and encloses the opening. A tamper-evident sealingmaterial is disposed between and attached to the cover and thecontainer, such that removal of the cover causes the sealing material tochange in a manner to provide an observable indication that the coverhas been removed

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the containerincludes a laterally-extending arcuate mounting flange extending fromthe perimeter of the opening. The curved flange is disposed in contactwith the transverse beam and conforms to the external surface of thetransverse beam.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter that is regarded as the invention may be bestunderstood by reference to the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a seat set including a life jacketcontainer assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a seat frame assembly showing a lifejacket container assembly attached thereto;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of a seat frame showing analternate manner of attaching a life jacket container assembly thereto;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of a seat frame showinganother alternate manner of attaching a life jacket container assemblythereto;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a life jacket container assemblyconstructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is view of the life jacket container assembly of FIG. 5 in anopened condition;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing the assembly of a lifejacket container assembly;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing the assembly of analternate embodiment of the life jacket container assembly;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a cover for a life jacket containerassembly; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternate cover for a life jacketcontainer assembly;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another alternate cover for a lifejacket container assembly;

FIG. 12 is a side view of the construction of a cover for a life jacketcontainer assembly; and

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an exemplary tamper-evident sealingmaterial;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings wherein identical reference numerals denotethe same elements throughout the various views, an aircraft passengerseat set according to the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 andshown generally at reference numeral 10. In the particular embodimentshown in FIG. 1, the seat set 10 is composed of two adjacent seats, 11and 13. The seat set 10 is supported on a pair of leg modules 14 and 15,and includes a baggage guard rail 16. The leg modules are connected byat least one laterally-extending transverse beam 50 (see FIG. 2) havingan external surface, which may be curved as shown. The seats 11 and 13are provided with arm rests 18, 19 and 21. The seats 11 and 13 includeseat bottoms 22 and 24, respectively, and seat backs 25 and 27,respectively. A secure life jacket container assembly 30 is disposedunder each seat 11 and 13. Each container assembly 30 encloses a lifejacket 32 or other type of flotation device stored in a packedcondition.

FIG. 4 illustrates a container assembly 30 constructed according to theinvention. The container assembly 30 includes a hollow container 34defining a storage volume and having an opening 36. The container 34 maybe formed from any lightweight, impermeable material such as sheet metalor plastic. The container 34 may be formed as a unitary component, forexample by vacuum molding or injection molding in a known manner. Thecontainer 34 includes a generally planar, outward-extending lip 38disposed around the perimeter of the opening 36. In the illustratedexample, the container 34 is opaque. However, if desired, all or part ofthe container 34 may be made translucent or transparent to allow viewingof the life jacket 32 inside, and also to discourage theft of the lifejacket 32, since it would be immediately obvious if it were missing fromthe container 34.

A cover 40 is attached to the container 34. The cover 40 encloses theopening 36, which protects the life jacket 32 from environmentalconditions such as dust and liquids, and discourages tampering with ortheft of the life jacket 32. The cover 40 may take different forms. Inthe example illustrated in FIG. 4, the cover 40 comprises a planar,flexible, transparent membrane constructed of plastic or similarmaterial and of the same approximate shape and size as the lip 38 of thecontainer 34, which is attached around its perimeter to the lip 38.Because the cover 40 is transparent, it allows observation of the lifejacket 32, so that identifying information (such as a serial number orexpiration date) can be readily observed, and so that the status of thesealing material 62 (described below) can be observed without having toremove the cover 40 The cover 40 also includes an integral handle 42 tobe used in removing the cover 40 from the container 34.

FIG. 5 illustrates a container assembly 30 having a slightly differentcover 40. The cover 40 is a substantially rigid, planar body, optionallyincluding an upstanding edge 44 around its perimeter which helps locateand seal the cover 40 to the container 34. The cover 40 includes amounting slot 46 to which a handle 48 (for example a length of nylonwebbing) is attached. The cover 40 is made of translucent or transparentmaterial which allows observation of the life jacket 32, so thatidentifying information (such as a serial number or expiration date) canbe readily observed, and so that the status of the sealing material 62(described below) can be observed without having to remove the cover 40.

FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 show different methods by which the container assembly30 may be mounted to the aircraft seat set 10. As shown in FIG. 2, thecontainer assembly 30 may be secured to the transverse beam 50 bymounting straps 52. The mounting straps 52 may be similar to plasticcable ties, which are wrapped around the transverse beam 50 and thenattached at their ends to the container assembly 30. FIG. 3 shows avariation in which relatively flat mounting bands 54 are wrapped aroundthe transverse beam 50 and then attached to the container assembly 30,for example with adhesive, fasteners, or hook-and-loop material (notshown). FIG. 4 shows yet another variation in which the containerassembly includes a radiused, laterally-extending mounting flange 56which conforms to the surface of the transverse beam 50, and may beattached to the transverse beam 50 as described above. It is noted thatthe exact location and the particular mounting method is not critical tothe operation of the present invention and may be altered as desired tosuit a particular application.

FIGS. 9, 10, and 11 illustrate several possible variations of the cover40. In this case, the cover 40 includes a first layer which is animpermeable membrane 58 and a second layer made from a sealing material62 (see FIG. 12). Because the sealing material 62 is relativelyexpensive, the amount of sealing material 62 used is minimized byapplying it to the membrane 58 only around the perimeter where the cover40 is to be attached to the container 34. A handle is also provided foropening the cover 40 when necessary. FIG. 9 shows a variation in whichthe handle comprises a flat strap 64 attached to the membrane 58, forexample by gluing a third layer of material to the membrane-sealingmaterial layered structure. FIG. 10 shows a variation in which thehandle is a perforated strap 66 that is made integral with the membrane58. To use the strap 66, it is torn along the perforated lines 68 andpulled upward. Finally, FIG. 11 shows a cover 40 in which the handle 42is made integrally with the membrane 58, by simply including the shapeof the handle 42 in the pattern when the cover 40 is cut or otherwiseformed.

FIG. 13 shows an exemplary tamper-evident sealing material 62. Theexemplary sealing material 62 includes a first layer 70 and a secondlayer 72. Each of the first and second layers 70 and 72 has an internalsurface 74 and an external surface 76. When the sealing material 62 isready for use, the internal surfaces 74 are adhered together as part ofan integral structure. In the illustrated example, each of the externalsurfaces 76 is coated with a suitable adhesive (not shown). Theproperties of the sealing material 62 are chosen such that, when twoobjects are sealed together with the sealing material 62, and an attemptis made to separate the two objects, the first and second layers 70 and72 will remain attached to their respective objects and will pull apartfrom each other. When the first layer 70 is pulled away from the secondlayer 72, the internal surfaces 74 are irreversibly changed in adistinct manner, thus giving evidence of tampering. In the illustratedexample, a pattern of indicia 78 such as the word “void” is visible inone or both of the first and second layers 70 and 72. Any sealingmaterial 62 which is capable of indicating tampering may be used withthe container assembly 30. Many sealing materials of this type arecommercially available, which operate in various ways. For example, aphysical or a chemical change or both may occur in the sealing materialto evidence tampering. The exact principle of operation is not importantfor the present invention, so long as tampering is disclosed.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate how the container assembly 30 may be puttogether. FIG. 7 shows the assembly sequence for a separate cover 40 andsealing material 62. The packed life jacket 32 is placed into thecontainer 34. The sealing material 62 is attached to the lip 38 of thecontainer 34, and then cover 40 is attached to the sealing material 62.The sealing material 62 and the cover 40 could be attached to thecontainer 34 in a number of different ways. For example, the sealingmaterial 62 could be provided with adhesive already applied to bothsides, in which case the sealing material 62 would be simply pressedonto the enclosure lip 38 and interior of the cover 40. Alternatively, aseparate adhesive (not shown), for example a brush-on or sprayableadhesive, could be applied to the cover 40, sealing material 62, andcontainer 34 before assembly.

FIG. 8 shows the manner of assembly when a cover 40 having an integralsealing material (of the type shown in FIGS. 9-12) is used. In thiscase, the cover 40 already includes the sealing material 62 disposedabout its perimeter. To complete the assembly, the packed life jacket 32is simply placed inside the container 34 and then the cover 40 issecured to the lip 38 of the container.

FIG. 6 illustrates the tamper-evident properties of the containerassembly 30. The cover 40 has been pulled away from the container 34,causing the indicia 78, such as the word “void” or any other selectedsymbol or phrase, to be displayed in the sealing material 62. This is aclear, irreversible indication that the container assembly 30 has beenopened, alerting service personnel that the life jacket (if stillpresent) may have been tampered with and should be inspected. Even ifthe cover 40 is replaced, the sealing material 62 will still showevidence of tampering. The transparent or translucent nature of thecover 40 allows easy observation of the status of the sealing materialeven while the cover 40 is attached. The fact that the containerassembly 30 is tamper-evident serves as a deterrent feature, both toprevent thieves from stealing the life jacket 32, and to stop terroristsfrom inserting weapons or illegal objects into the container 24unnoticed.

The foregoing has described a secure life jacket container assemblyincluding a hollow container, and a cover attached to the container witha tamper-evident sealing material. While specific embodiments of thepresent invention have been described, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that various modifications thereto can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.Accordingly, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment ofthe invention and the best mode for practicing the invention areprovided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose oflimitation—the invention being defined by the appended claims.

1. A tamper-evident container assembly, comprising: a hollow containerdefining a storage volume, said container having an openingcommunicating with said storage volume; a cover attached to saidcontainer and enclosing said opening; and a tamper-evident sealingmaterial disposed between and attached to said cover and said container,such that removal of said cover causes said sealing material to changein a manner to provide an observable indication that said cover has beenremoved.
 2. The tamper-evident container assembly of claim 1, whereinsaid open-ended container is a molded plastic one-piece assembly havingan outwardly-extending lip disposed around the perimeter of saidopening.
 3. The tamper-evident container assembly of claim 2, whereinsaid container includes a laterally-extending arcuate mounting flangeextending from said lip.
 4. The tamper-evident container assembly ofclaim 1, wherein said cover is a generally planar membrane.
 5. Thetamper-evident container assembly of claim 4, wherein said coverincludes a handle formed integrally therewith.
 6. The tamper-evidentcontainer assembly of claim 1, wherein said cover is a substantiallyrigid, planar cover having an upstanding edge disposed around its outerperimeter.
 7. The tamper-evident container assembly of claim 6, whereinsaid cover includes a handle attached thereto.
 8. The tamper-evidentcontainer assembly of claim 1, wherein said sealing material comprises aflexible material having first and second layers attached to said coverand to said container, wherein separation of said cover from saidcontainer causes said first and second layers to separate from eachother while said first layer remains attached to said cover and saidsecond layer remains attached to said container.
 9. The tamper-evidentcontainer assembly of claim 8, wherein said separation of said first andsecond layers causes an indicia to be visible in at least one of saidfirst and second layers.
 10. A passenger seat frame assembly,comprising: at least two spaced-apart leg modules; at least onetransverse beam extending laterally between said leg modules, said beamhaving an external surface; and a tamper-evident container assemblyattached to said seat frame, said container assembly comprising: ahollow container defining a storage volume, said container having anopening communicating with said storage volume; a cover attached to saidcontainer and enclosing said opening; and a tamper-evident sealingmaterial disposed between and attached to said cover and said container,such that removal of said cover causes said sealing material to changein a manner to provide an observable indication that said cover has beenremoved.
 11. The passenger seat frame assembly of claim 10, Wherein saidcontainer includes a laterally-extending arcuate mounting flangeextending from the perimeter of said opening, said curved flange beingdisposed in contact with said transverse beam and conforming to theexternal surface of said transverse beam.